OFFICE OF THE STATE’S ATTORNEY

FOR

BALTIMORE CITY

 

208 THE CLARENCE M. MITCHELL, JR. COURTHOUSE

 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND  21202

 

Patricia C. Jessamy                                                                                                                                                 Phone

   State’s Attorney

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

 

For Information Contact:            Margaret T. Burns

                                                 Chief, Communications & Governmental Affairs

Office (443) 984-1121 or Cell Phone (443) 474-7479

                                                                        Or

                                                Joseph Sviatko, Public Information Officer

                                                Office (443) 984-1122 or Cell (410) 790-3248

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

YIMOE SIDDHA PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF A DISQUALIFYING CRIME (FELON IN POSSESSION), SENTENCED TO FIVE-YEARS WITHOUT PAROLE.

 

            Baltimore, MD – May 8, 2008 – At a hearing today Yimoe Siddha, 41, of the 500 block of East Madison Street, pled guilty to possession of a handgun after being convicted of a disqualifying crime and wear/carry/transport a handgun.  Judge Gale E. Rasin sentenced him to five-years in prison without the possibility of parole. 

 

            A Federal Letter of Intent to Prosecute or “FLIP letter” was utilized by the State today.  FLIP letters are written by federal prosecutors to notify defendants with pending State charges that the evidence in their case has been reviewed by the United States Attorneys Office and that federal charges will be filed if their cases are not resolved in State court.

 

            On December 26, 2007 at 11:05AM in the 2800 block of Edmondson Avenue, officers approached a group of individuals who began to disperse upon observing their presence.  Officers observed Siddha holding his side, acting in a manner consistent with that of an armed person.  Officers patted him down and recovered from his dip area a P90 Ruger .45 handgun loaded with live rounds and ready to fire.

 

            Siddha’s record included a 1993 conviction for robbery deadly weapon (handgun) and a 1988 conviction for robbery.

 

            Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Kowalczyk of the Firearms Investigation Violence Enforcement (F.I.V.E.) Division prosecuted this case.

 

###